DH and I are considering a trip to Munich next year using award tix on AA. As all AA frequent flyers know it's best to avoid BA when making award bookings due to ridiculous fees. I found a good schedule using Air Berlin but it involves a 50 minute layover at TXL, and that's on the incoming flight from Chicago. I wouldn't be so worried if it were a domestic flight but of course this involves German customs. Frankly I'm a little surprised this connection is legal but AA's web site displays it.

For those who have made connections at TXL, can you tell me if this is doable? The flight we have booked leaves Berlin at 8:15am, the next leaves at 12:40pm. I'm tempted just to take it and if worse comes to worse we will take the 12:40 flight.

Thanks in advance.

Correction--I don't think it matters but the incoming flight is from JFK, not Chicago.

>>the next leaves at 12:40pm. I'm tempted just to take it and if worse comes to worse we will take the 12:40 flight. <<

That is your best option IMO. They will put you on the later flight anyway (assuming there is space) so why not book the earlier flight/legal connection

>>but of course this involves German customs.<<

Nope -- it will involve German <i>Immigration</i>. You won't see your bags and you will go through German <i>Customs</i> (a non-issue) in Munich.

Only been through TXL once and I did indeed miss connection due to delayed inbound flight and did get put on the next flight out (it was on Air Berlin).

I remember it as a smallish basic airport but not the most efficiently run. In your shoes I'd try for early one but know that I might well end up on the later flight.

If you fly all the way from home on Air Berlin your bags will be checked through to Munich. Tegel is a small airport so you should be able to make it if your plane from New York is on time.

Unless you plan to fly on a Sunday, there should be more connections with airberlin than 4 hours later. Normally there is one flight per hour, sometimes one per 1.5 hrs.

If your incoming flight is on time, it's no problem to make that connection.
If it's late, you will miss it like anywhere else.

Thanks to all for your replies. Cowboy, we will be arriving on a Sunday morning. I still have these tickets on hold so I will keep that in mind if we change our dates before booking.